Brush



Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH Francis Alphonce Piron, Wausau, Wis. Application July 18, 1940, Serial No. 846,204

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved expansible brush for cleaning the interiors of vessels having restricted neck portions such as bottles and jars and the like.

More particularly, it is an aim of the invention to provide an expansible brush including chains of brushes attached to a supporting rod in a manner so that a movement of the chains in one direction will expand the chains to bring the brushes thereof into engagement with the inner side of a vessel to be cleaned while the movement of chains in another direction will contract the chains relatively to the rod to permit the insertion or removal of the brush through a restricted neck portion of the vessel.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a construction of chain brush having cam means associated with certain of the links of the chain for directing the chains to expanded positions relatively to their supporting rods and means to provide a limited sliding movement of certain of the links relatively to certain of the other links to permit the cam portions to move into positions for co-acting engagement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a construction of chain brush wherein the alternate links of the chain will carry the individual brush element and to so mount said brush element relatively to said links and each of the brush elements will be engaged by two of the links for retaining the individual links in extended positions relatively to each other when the chains are in operative positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the invention in an expanded, operative position,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal central vertical sectional view of a portion of one of the chains, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the different views, It! designates generally a. cleaning brush comprising the invention and which includes a rod H to one end of which is fixedly secured a brush I2 which is disposed substantially at a right angle to the axis of the rod II. A pair of corresponding chains, designated generally I3,

are each pivotally connected at one end thereof to the opposite ends of the head portion of the brush l2 at [4. The opposite ends of the chains l3 are each pivotally connected at l5 to a bar IS. The pair of bars l6 are slidably attached to the rod H by means of bands or rings I! which combine therewith to form a sleeve member, designated generally l8, which is slidably mounted on the rod I I to thereby provide means whereby one end of each of the chains I3 is fixedly connected relatively to the rod H, while the opposite end of each of the chains I3 is slidably connected relatively thereto.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the chains l3 are each composed of alternate links l9 and pairs of links 20. The links 19 are channel shaped and the sides of each of said links, at corresponding ends thereof, are beveled to form the downwardly and outwardly inclined cam faces 2|. The said sides 22, at their opposite ends, are tapered to form the pointed projections 23. The sides 22 are also provided with oblong openings 24 which are disposed adjacent the ends 2| and substantially at right angles to said cam faces. As best seen in Figure 3, a pair of links 20 are rigidly connected, adjacent their corresponding ends, to the sides 22 of each of the links [9, and adjacent their ends 23 by means of nut and bolt fastenings 25. The opposite, free ends of the links of the pair project beyond the tapered ends 23 and are adapted to be connected to the opposite end of the next adjacent link l9 by means of a nut and bolt fastening 26 which extends through apertures in the free end of the links 20 and through the slots 24 of said last mentioned'link 19. The shank of the bolt or fastening 26 is preferably provided with a sleeve 21 for slidably engaging the slots 24 through which it extends. It will thus be seen that the alternate links l9 are each fixedly connected at one end to a pair of links 20 and slidably and pivotally connected at its opposite end to another pair of links 20.

A brush 28 is carried by each of the links I9. The brushes 28 each includes a head portion 29 which is secured to the outer sides of a base portion 30 of a link 19 by means of a plurality of nut and bolt fastenings 3|. The brush heads 29 are so connected to the base portions 30 that one end of the brush head 29 extends beyond the corresponding end of the base 30 while the opposite end of the base 30 projects beyond the opposite end of the brush head 29. The brush heads 29 are provided with outwardly projecting tufts of bristles which combine to form a bristle portion 32 and the brush I2 is provided with a similar bristle portion 32. Due to the off-set connection of the base portions 30 and the brush heads 29, the exposed end of each of the base portions 30 is disposed in overlapping engagement with the exposed end of the brush head 29 of the next adjacent link I9, when the links I9 and 20 and the chains I3 are in extended positions relatively to each other, as illustrated in Figures1and2; I

Assuming the brush It to be in the position as seen in Figure 1, by moving the sleeve I8 away from the brush I2 the chains I3 will be drawn inwardly relatively to each other and into contracted positions relatively to the rod II so that the head portion of the brush I I l can; be passed through a restricted neck 33 of abqttle or jar 34, shown in dotted lines in Figure I, to thereby remove the brush ID from the bottle or jar 34, In a like manner, the head portion of the brush IE! can be inserted inte the nettle or jar. 3'4 While the chains Bare in a 'contracted po'sition after which the sleeve ls'can be ifibved toward the brush I2 to expand the'chains- I3 tobrin'g the bristle portions '3'2' of the brushes ZB thereof into engagement with the inner side' of the jar134 for securing or scrubbing the interior of the jar '34 by tin -hing it relatively to the brush In. As" tnesieeve 'I8is nived toward the brush I2 forex anding the dhains f3, tlielin'ks zu' will move inwardly relatively to. the links, I9 and through the slots and fastening connections 24 and 26 to cause the tapered erils 23 of each link Etc-contact the 'cafii surfacesfl of 'the' next adjacntdifik I9, toward the fixed ends of. the chains I3, to provide "a cam engagement .which willp rogressivly urge the links I9 and ill outwa'rdly relatively to the rod 'II. from the ends thereof which are secured to the. brush I2 to their opposite ends. :When the links I9. and 20 reach theirffully expandedpositidnsfas defined by the vessel-'34 i'rilwliich thabrush: I9 is mounted, the-"exposed endsfof the base portions 38 will move "into overlapping. engagement with the .exe

psed ends of the brushfli'ea'cls, 29- to position the links I9 and 20, in the manner as. illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, to thereby..cau'sethe fastenings and. sleeves 21 th niove tothe upper and outer ends of theslots. to, position thelinks 19, which are dispo's'ed'in a straight line, in extended "positions relatively o eachother. When thus positioned, the: overlapping engagement of the base p'o'rtions 3Il and brushheads 29 will combine with the links 20,,to prevent the indi vidual links I9 from.moving relatively to 0118 another so that the brushes 28 carried, thereby willbe moved, out of engagement. with theves sel' 3.4-. .As heretofore mentioned, the links of the chains "I'3 move from contracted toexpanded positi'ons. progressively beginning with the links 1 connected to the bush I2,,.and conversely, the linksof the chains I3 progressively move to col lapsed positions, when actuated bythe move- Inent of the sleeve I8; away Irornthe brush IZ, beginning with the links connected to the sleeve I81. 1 j

3, .Variousmodifications and changes are con templated andv may obviously be resorted to as only a preferred embodiment "of the invention 9 has been disclosed. g

'I claim as myinvention:

1. A device of the class described, comprisihg a rod, chains of brushes, each of saidchains having an end pivotally connected. to one end of the rod, amember slidably mounted on said rod, the opposite ends of said chains of brushes being pivotally connected to said member, each of the chains of brushes including alternate links each comprising brush elements and alternately arranged connecting links, the connecting links each being rigidly attached at one end to an end of one brush element and slidably and pivotally attached at its opposite end to the adjacent end of another brush element, and the head portions of .the brushes of the. chains being constructed and arranged to overlapior holding the chains of brushes in expanded positions.

2. A device of the class described, comprising A and, a chain of brushes having an end pivotally ifl '- connected to one end of the rod, a member slid- .ably mountedv on said rod, the opposite end of said chain of brushes being pivotally connected tosaid member, links arranged between and connecting the individual brushes of the chain,

each o'f said links being fixedly connected at one end to an end of one brush and slidably. and pivotally connected at its opposite .end to the adjacent end. of anothenbrush, and the head portions of the brushes. of .said chain. havin taperedcorresponding ends. and obliquely disposed ,cam facesfat, their. opposite: ends, said tapered ends being, disposedto engage the. cam faces for directing thegbrushesv outwardlm i'elatively tottherod, When said member is. moved toward the endof. the rod to. which the chain is secured, for moving the chain of brushes to an expanded position. ,v

3. A device of the/class described, comprising a rod, a chain of brushes having anend pivotally connected, toone end of the rod, a member. slidably mounted ,on saidrod, the opposite. end ,of said chain, ofbrushes being pivotally connected to said fm'ember, links arranged betweenand connecting the individual brushes 0f, the chain, each of said links. being fixedlyconnected at one end to an end of one brush. and. s1idab1y and pivotallyconnected at its'opposite end totlie adja e end f ano r rush. n th head portions of the individual blushes of thet chain being constructed and arranged to overlap,; and the ov lappin port n 92. t r s t fil being provided to, cooperate with said links for holding the chain of brushes in an expanded position. v H

4. A device of the class .described-, co mpri sing a rod, a chain of brushes-having an end pivotally connected to one end of therod, a member slid.- ably mounted on. saidrod,, hqfipposite endof said chain of brushes being pivotallyconnected tosaid member, links arranged between and connecting vthe.individual.Jorush es of the chain, each of said links-being fixedlyconnected.atone end to an end of one brush and slidably and pivotally connected at itsopposite end to the adjacent end of another brush, and the head portions of the brushes of said chain havi-ng tapered corresponding ends and obliquely dis posed cam faces at. theigopposite .Iends, said tapered ends being disposed to engage the cam mounted on the rod, the opposite ends of the chains being pivotally connected to said sleeve, brushes and connecting links arranged to form alternate links of the chains, said connecting links having corresponding ends slidably and pivotally connected to corresponding ends of the brushes, and said brushes having co-acting cam portions for directing the connecting links and brushes outwardly relatively to the rod when the sleeve is moved in one direction for expanding the chains.

6. A device of the class described comprising a rod, chains each pivotally connected at one end to an end of the rod, a sleeve slidably mounted on the rod, the opposite ends of the chains being pivotally connected to said sleeve, brushes and connecting links arranged to form alternate links of the chains, said brushes being constructed and arranged for overlapping engagement with one another for holding the connecting links and brushes in extended positions relatively to each other when the chains are expanded relatively to the rod.

'7. A brush for cleaning the interior of vessels, comprising a rod, a plurality of alternately arranged and connected brushes and links forming a chain, one end of the chain being attached to an end of the rod, and a member slidably mounted on the rod and pivotally connected to the opposite end of the chain, said links being slidably and pivotally connected at corresponding ends to corresponding ends of the brushes and fixedly connected at their opposite ends to the opposite ends of the brushes, and said brushes having overlapping portions cooperating with the links for retaining the brushes in expanded positions relatively to the rod.

FRANCIS ALPHONCE PIRON. 

